Boat bail devices



April 1962 A. D. SPURLOCK 3,029,768

BOAT BAIL DEVICES Filed Sept. 2, 1958 ZNVENTOR "1' AD. SPURLOCK ATTORNEY 3,029,768 BOAT BAHL DEVICES A. D. Spurloclr, Dawson, Ga. Filed Sept. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 758,243 Claims. (Cl. 114-185) This invention relates to a boatbail device and espe cially to an attachment for a tube placed in the stern of a boat through which water may be drained by opening same after the boat reaches suflicient speed in the water.

It is well known that water trapped in the inside bottom of a boat can be removed through an opening below the waterline if sufficient speed is maintained through the water. Devices have been disclosed previously for opening the shaft housing of an inboard boat to suck water from inside the boat by the movement of the boat and the whirling of the screw. This is a very good way of removing water and a simple method of bailing.

The present device, without limitation on scope of invention or use of patent claim language, is a valve device for attachment on the stern material of the boat to fit into and against the convention drain pipe leading through the boat. Of course, if no drain pipe is present, one must be provided to use this invention. A short piece of flanged pipe fits into the inside end opening of the drain pipe and presses a rubber washer between its flange and the inner lip of the drain. An elongated, tubular housing of brass or plastic like material suitable for marine use has an inner flanged portion and an outer larger, attachment flanged portion with portions between said flanges discontinuous leaving connection ribs with water inlet spaces therebetween. The inner tubular end of the housing has a cylindrical bore in which is confined a coil spring and positioned in said tubular, cylindrical bore against said spring is a solid plunger member having a control chain screwed thereinto. The end of the chain is led through the end of the housing and beyond for any desired distance for control. The other end of the plunger from the chain protrudes between said ribs and said attachment flange and receives detachably therein a washer screw which attached thereto a steel washer on the inside, a flanged rubber washer on the middle, and a second washer on the outside. A cylindrical screen fits over the water inlet portion of the housing. In operation, the flanges housing is bolted to the boat stern with the short pipe in the drain. The coil spring presses the flanged rubber washer tightly into the pipe opening and when the chain is pulled from any direction, the plunger pulls the washer out of the opening permitting water to be forced from inside said boat. The coil spring returns the plunger and seats the washer when released.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a boat bail drain device which plugs the drain inside the boat.

A very important feature of this device is the simplicity of construction whereby the device may be easily manufactured and assembled and may be readily dis-assembled in the boat, if desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tight seal in the inside of the boat at the stern drain tube when the bail is not being operated.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a boat bail drain device which plugs the drain inside the boat and which can be quickly installed on boats having conventional transom drain tubes, and with little effort can be readily installed on other boats by providing the receptacle tube for the device. 1

A very important feature is that the device can be actuated by a pull of the control chain from practically all angles which makes it readily adaptable for remote controlled operation from almost any point in the boat, particularly from a location near the steering controls where- 3,fl29,?68 Patented Apr. 17, 1962 by a single occupant operator can safely drain the boat while in motion without leaving the operators position in the boat.

Another feature of this device is the simplicity of construction whereby the device may be easily manufactured and assembled and may be readily installed on the boat and dis-assembled in the boat, if desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tight seal in the inside of the boat at the stern drain tube when the bail is not being operated; one which closes automatically and assures that the boat cannot be operated or launched with an open drain tube.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the boat bail device of this invention attached to a stern member and in open (or bail) position.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation exploded assembly, or disassembly, view of the boat bail device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 and revolved degrees therefrom.

In FIG. 1, the stern Id of a boat 11 is constructed of conventional marine wood, plywood, fiberglass or metal and has positioned therethrough the usual drain pipe 12 with flared or flanged ends 14, 16 forming a sort of thimble in the material open from inside the boat to outside thereof. Pipe 12 is preferably made from brass, plastic or other marine material.

Fitted into the inside end of pipe 12 against the flared portion 14, is a short piece of flanged pipe 18 with flange 2i and having a circular rubber washer ring 22 mounted thereon pressed against the flange 14.

An elongated tubular, bail drain housing 24, preferable cast or molded of brass, plastic or other satisfactory marine material has a tubular barrel like inner portion 26 with small tapered open end 28 and cylindrical bore 39. Formed integrally with barrel portion 26 is an outer flange 32. Also formed on the housing 24 is an inner, larger attachment flange 34 with a flat out portion 36 to be fitted against the boat bottom. Flanges 32 and 34 are cast or formed integrally with housing 24 and are joined and separated by ribs 37 defining discontinuous portions between the flanges through which water enters and passes through the open bore 38 of flange 34. V

A large coil spring 40 is positioned in the bore 30 in front of and bearing against spring 40 and is normally assembled with a plunger 42 having outer end 44 in which is screwed by screw 46 a flexible control chain 48 which leads through bore 30 and outwardly from the hole in open end 28. Chain 48 is preferably of a small flexible marine control type which can be positioned at any angle. The inner end 50 of plunger 42 is reduced in size and has therein a threaded bore 52. A first hard washer 54 is mounted against the end 50 of plunger 42 and next to that is an elongated, flanged rubber drain plug washer 55 with flange 56 and body 57. A second hard washer 58 is mounted outside of rubber washer 55 and a screw 60 attaches washers 54, 55 and washer 56 to the end 50 of plunger 42. Washer 54 acts as a guide for plunger 42 with the surface of washer 54 acting on the surface of connecting nuts 37. Tightening screw 60 on washer 58 compresses collar 57 to whatever enlargement is desired.

A filter screen device 61 comprises a flanged ring 62 with one end of a-cylindrical screen 64 attached thereto and having a small ring 66 attached to the other end of screen 64. The flange of ring 62 corresponds with the flange 34 and fits flat thereagainst to be attached with said flange 34 at the same time the flange 34 is attached on the end stern 10 by means of four marine screws 70 which pass through holes in both flanges 62 and 34.

In position on the boat 11 the body 57 of rubber washer 55 fits inside the barrel-like bore of the flanged pipe 18 with the flange 56 of washer 55 pressed tightly against the flange of pipe 18 by the coil spring 40 confined against the inner end of bore 30 pressing on plunger 42.

Chain 48 is flexible and will assume various angles depending upon the angle of pull. As shown in FIG. 1, a control handle 72 may be located at some convenient spot in boat 11, such as at the front adjacent the steering wheel (not shown) and chain 48 is connected thereto by means of any suitable control cable 74. When chain d8 is pulled out from opening 28, plunger 42 is pulled against spring 40 outwardly into the position shown in FIG. 1 where the body 57 of washer 55 has been pulled from the opening in tube 18 and the flange 56 of washer 55 is dis-engaged from its tight seal against flange 20. in this condition, when the boat 11 attains sufficient speed, water inside the bottom will be moved through the screen 64, through the openings between ribs 37 and out through openings 38 and tubes 18 and 12.

When the control 72 is released, coil spring 40 will return washer 55 into water seal position in pipe 18.

The novel arrangement of parts shown particularly in FIG. 3 permits economical manufacture and easy assembly and dis-assembly, as well as a simple attachment on the boat stern material 10. With the rubber washer 55 firmly seated in tube 18 and tube 18 firmly seated in and firmly pressing washer 22 against tube 12, entrance of water is prevented. a

While I have shown and described a very detailed em bodiment of my invention, this is not to be taken as any sort of limitation on the scope of my invention since various alterations, substitutions, eliminations, changes and variations may be made in this embodiment shown without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a boat bail device for attachment on a boat to drain the liquid from inside thereof through a drain tube in the stern of the boat and which tube has an open inner end exposed inside the boat, a tube member, gasket means positionable on and around the outside periphery of'said tube member to seal around the inner end thereof, a plunger housing having attaching means thereon, a longi tudinal bore formed in said plunger housing, a rigid plunger mounted in said bore for longitudinal movement for extension and retraction therein, spring means resisting the movement of said plunger and returning same to extended position and normally extended under spring pressure therein, said housing having openings therein through which water can drain around said plunger, a resilient washer mounted on the end of said plunger and comprising an elongated collar portion fitting into said tube member and a flanged portion fitting outside and around the periphery of said tube memberflanged inner end, means attaching said washer on said plunger, and

control means attached to said plunger and operable to pull said plunger in said bore thereby dis-engaging said flanged washer from said drain opening to permit water to drain therethrough.

2. In a boat bail drain device for attachment on a boat to drain the liquid from inside thereof through a drain tube in the stern of the boat and which tube has an open inner end exposed inside said boat, an elongated plunger housing having a longitudinal bore formed therein, a flanged attaching member formed on said housing for attachment to the flat surface of the boat stern and having an opening formed substantially centrally thereof to match with said drain tube, said housing having portions thereof discontinuous between said bore and said flanged attaching member thereby forming openings in said housing through which water will pass to said opening in said flanged attaching member and through said boat drain tube, a plunger mounted in said bore for extension and retraction therein through said opening in said flanged attaching member, spring means normally maintaining spawns said plunger in extended position in said opening and resisting movement thereof, control means on said plunger for extending and retracting same in said bore, resllient washer means mounted on said plunger and engageable through said opening in said attaching member and in said drain opening to close said drain when said plunger is extended, said plunger being retractable in said housing to permit water to be drawn through said openings in said housing, through said opening in said attaching member and through said drain in said boat.

3. in a boat bail drain device for attachment on a boat to drain the liquid therefrom through an open drain tube in the stern material of the boat and which tube has an open inner end exposed inside said boat, an elongated plunger housing having a generally cylindrical outer end portion with an elongated bore formed therein, an inner attachment member formed with said housing and having an attachment means formed therein, said flange being attachable to said stern material and about said drain tube opening inside said boat, connecting members rigidly connecting said cylindrical outer end of said housing with said inner flange and said members having spaces therebetween communicating with the interior of said housing, said inner member having an enlarged opening through the center thereof communicating with said drain tube and with said openings in said housing between said connecting members, a rigid plunger member mounted for movement for extension and retraction in said bore of said plunger housing through said space inside said connecting members and through said opening in said flanged member at said drain tube, a first hard washer mounted on the end of said plunger and contacting the inner surface of said housing to guide said plunger therein, a resilient washer member mounted on said plunger against said first hard washer and comprising an elongated collar with an outwardly flanged inner end seated against said first hard washer, a second hard washer seated against the outer end of said elongated collar of said resilient washer, a screw member attaching said first washer, said resilient washer and said second hard washer on said plunger with said resilient Washer pressed between said first and second hard washers, a coil spring engageable with said plunger end to maintain said plunger in extended position and to resist retracted movement of said plunger from said flanged inner member opening,.and a flexible control member attached to the inner end of said plunger and extending out- Ward-1y from said housing to be pulled away from any of various directions of pull thereon, thereby temporarily dis-engaging said washer from blocking said drain tube.

4. In a boat bail drain device for attachment on a boat to drain the liquid therefrom through an open drain tube in the stern material of the boat and which tube has an open inner end exposed inside said boat, an elongated plunger housing having a generally cylindrical outer end portion with an elongated bore formed therein, a flanged inner member formed with said housing and having an attachment flange with screw openings formed therein, Said flange being attachable by screws to said stern material and about said drain tube opening inside said boat, connecting members rigidly connecting said cylindrical outer end of said housing with said inner flange and said members having spaces therebetween communicating with the interior of said housing, said flanged inner member having an enlarged opening through the center thereof communicating with said drain tube and with said openings in said housing between said connecting members, a rigid plunger" member mounted for movement for extension and retraction in said bore of said plunger housing through said space inside said connecting members and through said opening in said flanged member into said drain tube, a first hard washer mounted on the end of said plunger and contacting the inner surface of said housing-to guide said plunger therein, a resilient Washer member mounted on said plunger against said first hardwasher and comprising an elongated collar with an outwardly flanged inner end seated against said first hard washer, a second hard washer smaller than the first washer and seated against the outer end of said elongated collar of said resilient washer, a screw member attaching said first washer, said resilient washer and said second hard washer on said plunger with said resilient washer pressed between said first and second hard washers, a spring acting on said plunger end to maintain said plunger in extended position and to resist retracted movement of said plunger from said opening in said flanged member, and a flexible control member attached to the inner end of said plunger and extending outwardly from said housing to be pulled from any of various directions of pull thereon, said flexible washer extending into said boat drain tube and against the inner end thereof to seal said tube from leakage.

5. In a boat bail drain device for attachment on a boat to drain the liquid therefrom through an open drain tube in the stern material of the boat and which tube has an open inner end exposed inside said boat, an elongated plunger housing having a generally cylindrical outer end portion with an elongated bore formed therein, a flanged inner member formed with said housing and having an attachment flange with screw openings formed therein, said flange being attachable by screws to said stern material and about said drain tube opening inside said boat, connecting members rigidly connecting said cylindrical outer end of said housing with said inner flange and said members having spaces therebetween communicating with the interior of said housing, said flanged inner member having an enlarged opening through the center thereof communicating with said drain tube and with said openings in said housing between said connecting members, a rigid plunger member mounted for movement for extension and retraction in said bore of said plunger housing through said space inside said connecting members and through said opening in said flanged member into said drain tube, a short tube member fitted into the open end of said drain tube, and having a flanged inner end extending around said drain end, a circular washer mounted on said short tube against the inner end of said drain tube and between said flange and said stern material forming a tight seal between said short tube and said drain tube, a first hard washer mounted on the end of said plunger and contacting the inner surface of said housing to guide said plunger therein, a resilient washer member mounted on said plunger against said first hard washer and comprising an elongated collar with an outwardly flanged inner end seated against said first hard washer, a second hard washer smaller than the first washer and seated against the outer end of said elongated collar of said resilient washer, a screw member attaching said first washer, said resilient washer and said second hard washer on said plunger with said resilient washer pressed between said first and second hard washers, a coil spring confined inside and against one end of said bore and bearing against said plunger end to maintain said plunger in extended position and to resist retracted movement of said plunger from said short tube opening, a screen member mounted on said housing and around said housing spaces to the interior of said housing, said screen member having a flanged end thereof mounted against and complementary to said flanged end of said housing and having openings therein through which the attaching screws attaching said housing to said boat also attach said screen flange therewith, and a flexible control member attached to the inner end of said plunger and extending outwardly from said housing to be pulled from any of various directions of pull thereon, thereby retracting said plunger which pulls said flanged washer from said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,053,006 Noss Sept. 1, 1936 2,730,062 Mitchell Jan. 10, 1956 2,909,144 Baldwin Oct. 20, 1959 

